Bombers down Birds in Bronx

NEW YORK — Feted by fans and celebrated by teammates throughout his final opening day in the Bronx, Derek Jeter hardly felt as if he was starting his 20th big league season at home.

The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Feted by fans and celebrated by teammates throughout his final opening day in the Bronx, Derek Jeter hardly felt as if he was starting his 20th big league season at home.

Jeter gave Yangervis Solarte some assistance with Yankee Stadium tradition, then the rookie helped make the captain a winner Monday as New York beat the Baltimore Orioles 4-2.

"I don't want to jinx anything but it felt really good," Jeter said. "It felt like maybe my first home opener. It was a fun time for me."

Jeter doubled high off the left-field wall, nearly getting thrown out at second after he started out in a home run trot before turning up the speed, and scored on Jacoby Ellsbury's first hit in pinstripes in the fifth. Hiroki Kuroda (1-1) pitched 61/3 sharp innings in the Yankees' 112th opener in New York.

In what manager Joe Girardi said would be a season-long lovefest for Jeter, the shortstop was cheered every step of the way by an adoring crowd of 48, 142 — even when his double-play grounder back to Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez (0-2) scored rookie Solarte in the third inning for the first run.

Solarte, a career minor leaguer and non-roster invitee to spring training, continued a torrid start as the suspended Alex Rodriguez's replacement at third base with a go-ahead RBI single in the fourth inning.

Playing in his first game in the Bronx, Solarte needed Jeter to tell him to wave to the Bleacher Creatures when they chanted his name during pregame roll call.

"Every day I look and Derek Jeter is playing next to me. I saw him since I was little and I could never even fathom that I would get to play with him on the same field," Solarte said. "Every day I try to learn something from him."

The Orioles got RBI singles from Matt Wieters and Nelson Cruz in falling to 2-5. Adam Jones and Chris Davis struck out against Adam Warren with a runner on in the eighth and trailing 4-2.

Matt Thornton, David Phelps, Warren and Shawn Kelley combined for hitless relief. Kelley pitched a perfect ninth for his first career save.

After missing all but 17 games last season, Jeter announced Feb. 12 this would be his final season. His retirement tour started on the road, where New York went 3-3 against Houston and Toronto.

But Jeter, who went 1 for 4, has said the season doesn't really start until the Yankees have had their home opener, and to help celebrate the team brought together the five-time World Series champion Core Four.

Recently retired teammates Andy Pettitte and Rivera threw ceremonial first pitches to Jeter and Jorge Posada, who retired after 2011.